Latest news with #Ondrasik
Chicago Tribune
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Of Notoriety: Pierogi Fest nets Five for Fighting, fairs bring Ludacris, Bill Murray, Snoop
This weekend marks the Summer Solstice on June 22, which also means the path of shorter days begins while ushering in the second half of summer's bows. It's also the prime of festival and fair season, with stage entertainment featuring marquee headliners. The 31st Annual Pierogi Fest in Whiting is the weekend of July 25-27, and playing the free entertainment stage is Five For Fighting, led by singer John Ondrasik, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26, sponsored by Hard Rock Casino. The songwriter and performer is a platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated name, whose first major single, 'Superman (It's Not Easy),' had constant radio play when it was released in 2000. Five For Fighting has released six studio LPs, including the platinum certified 'America Town' and 'The Battle for Everything,' along with the top-10 charting 'Two Lights.' Ondrasik's writing includes major hits, including the chart-topping '100 Years,' 'The Riddle,' 'Chances,' 'World,' and 'Easy Tonight,' which combined have earned 2 billion streams and place him among the top-10 Hot Adult Contemporary artists for the 2000s. The reflective and melodic '100 Years' continues to stand the test of time as a new favorite in recent decades, played at weddings, birthdays, graduations and memorials. Five For Fighting's music has also been featured in more than 350 films, television shows and commercials, including the Oscar-winning 'The Blind Side,' 'Hawaii Five-O,' 'The Sopranos' and the CBS drama, 'Code Black.' The main stage at Pierogi Fest is just one of six performance stages at the festival, sprawling through 119th Street in downtown Whiting. Last year, Sugar Ray was the featured headliner and in 2023, Smash Mouth, and in previous years, The Village People. Featuring more than 50 musical performances and entertainment offerings this year, the festival will include more than 75 food booths, two beer gardens, and 55 arts and crafts and tchotchke vendors. The following famed names and talents await fair audiences in July and August 2025: LaPorte County Fair, July 5-12, welcomes country music newcomers Warren Zeiders and Austin Williams as a double-bill performing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 10. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets range from $40 to $65, plus admission to the fair and parking are not free. FYI: or (219) 362-2647. Porter County Fair is July 17-26, with rapper Ludacris performing on the Grand Stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 18. Tickets are $40 and $45 plus fair admission. Parking is free. FYI: or 219-462-0321. Lake County Fair Aug. 1-10, country music new superstars Russell Dickerson and Niko Moon as a double-bill, 5 p.m. July 31. Tickets range from $39 to $111 plus fair admission. Parking is free. FYI: or 219-663-3617 Indiana State Fair Friday Aug. 1-Sunday Aug. 17, with headliners: Aug. 1-Three Dog Night, Aug. 7-America, Aug. 8 – Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers, Aug. 13 – Happy Together Tour (The Turtles, The Vogues, Little Anthony, Jay and The Americans, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap), Aug. 14 – Phil Vassar and Lonestar – 7:30 pm, Aug. 15 – Melissa Etheridge. All concert times are at 7:30 p.m. EST. General seating is free with fair admission and a parking fee. General Reserved Access Tickets are $61 and Premium Reserved Access tickets, $81.50-$107.25. FYI: or 317-927-7500. Illinois State Fair Aug. 7 through Aug. 17, with headlining concerts Aug. 8 – Jake Owen, Aug. 9 – The Black Crowes, Aug. 12 – Sheryl Crow, Aug. 13 – Snoop Dogg, Aug. 14 – Brad Paisley and Aug. 16 – Def Leppard. All concerts at 8 p.m. Ticket price range: $30-125 plus fair admission and parking fee. FYI: or 217-782-666.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Five for Fighting reimagines ‘Superman' in powerful tribute to Israeli hostages
Musician John Ondrasik, best known as Five for Fighting, has released a new version of his hit song "Superman," this time dedicated to the Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza. The reimagined track is intended to bring global attention to their ongoing ordeal, and, he hopes, help lead to their release. Appearing on "Fox & Friends" Monday, Ondrasik said the inspiration for the project came from the parallels between the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, which killed over 1,200 people, and the trauma Americans experienced on 9/11. "It became very clear that 'Superman' should be the song," he said. "With the history of 9/11, and the fact that, for Israel, October 7 is their 9/11." Although the song honors all the hostages, Ondrasik said it was especially inspired by one person: 24-year-old Alon Ohel, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. Alon's mother, Idit Ohel, collaborated with Ondrasik on the new version and its accompanying music video. Hamas Rejects Israeli Ceasefire, Hostage Return Deal Over Disarmament Demands "Just talking about Alon and his situation is so important," Idit said. Read On The Fox News App "People will know that there are still hostages [in] Gaza and they need to be released." She described her son's condition as dire. Injured during his abduction, Alon still has shrapnel in his eye and, as far as she knows, has received no medical treatment. "He's been, you know, shackled. He's been chained and starved every day as we speak," she said. "We really want him to come home." Freed Israeli Hostage Calls On Trump To Act As 'Modern Moses' To Save Brother From Hamas 'Lunatics' Alon was 22-years-old at the time of his capture and has now spent two birthdays in captivity. A passionate pianist, his love for music made the tribute especially meaningful to the family. When deciding which of his songs to rework, Ondrasik said one image stood out: a childhood photo of Alon wearing Superman pajamas. "Seeing the picture of him in his Superman jammies as a toddler made it very clear," Ondrasik said. "We had to tweak the lyrics a bit to basically recognize the incredible fortitude, the spiritual fortitude of people like Idit and the hostage families who go through the unbearable every day." "Superman" became a symbol of resilience in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. Ondrasik performed it for first responders, victims' families and at benefit concerts. Now, he says the Grammy-nominated song has taken on new meaning. With Trump's Backing Israel Pushes Deeper Into Gaza As Pressure Builds For Hostage Deal "The fact that we're still talking about this [returning the hostages] is an outrage of humanity," he said. "One does not have to be Jewish to support Idit, her family, Israel. One merely needs to be human, have a heart, have a soul." More than a year ago, Ondrasik performed "Superman" at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, where families and supporters gather regularly to demand the hostages' return. Alon's brother played the piano during that performance in honor of him. Ondrasik says he dreams of one day playing the song again, this time with Alon at his side. "I look forward to the day that we are at Hostage Square, at Alon's piano, and he's sitting next to me and his brother sitting next to me, and we are playing 'Superman,' and I believe that day will come. And we all pray that day will come." As of now, an estimated 59 hostages remain in Gaza. Fewer than half are believed to be alive. Their families continue to call for a ceasefire and the safe return of their loved ones, while also acknowledging the immense loss of life in Gaza, where tens of thousands have died in the ongoing article source: Five for Fighting reimagines 'Superman' in powerful tribute to Israeli hostages
Fox News
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Five for Fighting reimagines ‘Superman' in powerful tribute to Israeli hostages
Musician John Ondrasik, best known as Five for Fighting, has released a new version of his hit song "Superman," this time dedicated to the Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza. The reimagined track is intended to bring global attention to their ongoing ordeal, and, he hopes, help lead to their release. Appearing on "Fox & Friends" Monday, Ondrasik said the inspiration for the project came from the parallels between the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, which killed over 1,200 people, and the trauma Americans experienced on 9/11. "It became very clear that 'Superman' should be the song," he said. "With the history of 9/11, and the fact that, for Israel, October 7 is their 9/11." Although the song honors all the hostages, Ondrasik said it was especially inspired by one: 24-year-old Alon Ohel, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. Alon's mother, Idit Ohel, collaborated with Ondrasik on the new version and its accompanying music video. "Just talking about Alon and his situation is so important," Idit said. "People will know that there are still hostages [in] Gaza and they need to be released." She described her son's condition as dire. Injured during his abduction, Alon still has shrapnel in his eye and, as far as she knows, has received no medical treatment. "He's been, you know, shackled. He's been chained and starved every day as we speak," she said. "We really want him to come home." Alon was 22-years-old at the time of his capture and has now spent two birthdays in captivity. A passionate pianist, his love for music made the tribute especially meaningful to the family. When deciding which of his songs to rework, Ondrasik said one image stood out: a childhood photo of Alon wearing Superman pajamas. "Seeing the picture of him in his Superman jammies as a toddler made it very clear," Ondrasik said. "We had to tweak the lyrics a bit to basically recognize the incredible fortitude, the spiritual fortitude of people like Idit and the hostage families who go through the unbearable every day." "Superman" became a symbol of resilience in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. Ondrasik performed it for first responders, victims' families, and at benefit concerts. Now, he says the Grammy-nominated song has taken on new meaning. "The fact that we're still talking about this [returning the hostages] is an outrage of humanity," he said. "One does not have to be Jewish to support Idit, her family, Israel. One merely needs to be human, have a heart, have a soul." More than a year ago, Ondrasik performed "Superman" at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, where families and supporters gather regularly to demand the hostages' return. Alon's brother played the piano during that performance in honor of him. Ondrasik says he dreams of one day playing the song again, this time with Alon at his side. "I look forward to the day that we are at Hostage Square, at Alon's piano, and he's sitting next to me and his brother sitting next to me, and we are playing 'Superman,' and I believe that day will come. And we all pray that day will come." As of now, an estimated 59 hostages remain in Gaza. Fewer than half are believed to be alive. Their families continue to call for a ceasefire and the safe return of their loved ones, while also acknowledging the immense loss of life in Gaza, where tens of thousands have died in the ongoing conflict.
